Our AJA artists have been exploring the power of art to express individuality, celebrate differences, and strengthen our community! Across grade levels, students have been studying self-portraits and discovering how artists use color, shape, line, and detail to capture what makes each person unique. First Grade First graders explored self-portraiture inspired by artist Paul Klee,...
Seventh grade engineering students recently wrapped up an exciting cardboard chair project that challenged them to put their creativity, problem-solving, and engineering skills to the test. Their challenge was simple in concept but anything but simple in execution: design and build a functional chair using cardboard while considering stability, structure, materials, reuse, and sustainability. Thinking...
Connection & Adventure Our middle school students began the school year with an exciting trip to Candlelight Ranch, where they had the opportunity to build relationships, challenge themselves, and reflect on the kind of community they want to create together this year. Over the course of three days, students participated in activities designed to develop...
Dr. Karyn Hopper Rayburn begins her first year as Head of School at AJA and her 27th year in education. She holds a PhD in linguistics and a master’s degree in literature, speaks three languages, and is proudly a Hoosier, a Vol, and a Longhorn. Throughout her career, Karyn has been guided by a deep...
How can we take care of plants and animals? That was the driving question behind AJA’s first graders’ project-based learning unit — and they answered it in a big way. Over the course of this PBL, students dove deep into the natural world. They explored life cycles (birds, frogs, butterflies), studied animal classification, investigated what...
Beloved former AJA teacher, returning to AJA to teach middle school science and engineering. Kathleen Rosenmann’s return to Austin Jewish Academy marks both a homecoming and an exciting new chapter for the school’s science and engineering programs. A longtime member of the AJA community—as both an educator and parent—Kathleen brings with her decades of experience...
